Artwork
Portrait of a Young Lady
Portrait of a Young Lady is an oil painting. It dates from 1835 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
- Inscription
- Inscribed:Falsely lower left: JJAudubon
About this work
Technique & Style
Created in 1835, this portrait is executed in oil paint on a canvas support.
Created in 1835, this portrait is executed in oil paint on a canvas support. The work measures 61.3 centimeters in height by 46 centimeters in width. Classified as a painting within the portrait genre, the piece demonstrates the material conventions of nineteenth-century portraiture through its specific combination of media.
The physical dimensions suggest a half-length or bust-length composition typical of the period, though specific details regarding the artist's brushwork, surface condition, or distinct stylistic handling are not explicitly detailed in the available records.
History & Provenance
The painting's documented ownership begins with Rose M. de Forest of New York, who sold it on 12 April 1922 to the prominent collector Thomas B. Clarke (1848–1931). Following Clarke's death, his estate sold the work on 29 January 1936 through the dealer M. Knoedler & Co., New York, to The A. W. Mellon Educational and Charitable Trust in Pittsburgh. The trust gifted the portrait to the National Gallery of Art in 1947, where it remains in the Andrew W. Mellon collection.
The work is dated to 1835. Its attribution to an unknown 19th-century artist indicates the creator's identity was not established at the time of these transactions.
The Portrait of a Young Lady is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C., as part of the Andrew W. Mellon collection. The work entered the museum in 1947 as a gift from The A. W. Mellon Educational and Charitable Trust, following its acquisition by the Trust in January 1936 from the Thomas B. Clarke estate via M. Knoedler & Co. Prior to these transfers, the painting was sold at auction in New York in April 1922 to Clarke and was previously owned by Rose M. de Forest.
The National Gallery of Art lists the work in its inventory with accession details reflecting its 1947 donation. The painting was included in the 1928 Clarke exhibition, as noted in an annotated catalogue preserved in the gallery's curatorial records.
Legacy
The portrait entered the National Gallery of Art in 1947 through the Andrew W. Mellon Educational and Charitable Trust, a gift that placed the work within a leading U.S. museum and signaled its recognized cultural value. Its presence in the museum’s collection is documented in the National Gallery’s records and on its public catalog entry.
The painting was also featured in the 1928 Clarke exhibition catalogue, which recorded provenance from the Thomas B. Clarke estate and referenced files from M. Knoedler & Co., underscoring early scholarly attention to the piece. The continued attribution to an unidentified 19th‑century hand, as noted in its catalog description, encourages ongoing study of unsigned portraiture and the social context of the period.
Overview
This oil on canvas painting, titled Portrait of a Young Lady, depicts a woman situated within a tranquil garden setting. The artwork exemplifies characteristics of the Romantic movement, which often highlighted emotional expression and imaginative scenes. The overall composition conveys a sense of peace and serenity through its subject matter and execution.
Subject & Meaning
The painting features a young woman standing on a dirt path amidst lush garden foliage. She wears a flowing gown adorned with a floral motif and a white collar, her dark hair elegantly arranged. In her right hand, she holds a green parasol, suggesting an outdoor leisure scene.
A large tree trunk anchors the background, contributing to the serene and contemplative atmosphere that pervades the composition.
Artist & collection
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